Manuscript-holder.



PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

R. S. LAPOON. MANUSCRIPT HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1905.

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witnesses RICHARD S. LAFOON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

MANUSCRIPT-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

Application filed November 6. 1905. Serial No. 286094.

T 0 all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD S. LAFOON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Manuscript-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to manuscript holders for the use of public speakers, and its primary object is to provide a novel and highly useful device of this character which in appearance somewhat resembles an Oxford-bound Bible so as not to betray to an audience the use of manuscript by the speaker.

A further object of the invention is to rovide a manuscript'holder by means of which any portion of the manuscript maybe quickly presented to view for ready reference, one

which is snnple of construction, and one which can be manufactured and.sold at a comparatively low cost.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arran 'ement of parts herein after fully described, 0 aimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a manuscript holder, constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 33 of Fig l, and Fig. 4 is also a similar view on the line 4-4 Fig. 3.

Referrin to the drawings by reference numerals, 1 designates the top, 2 the front, 3 the back, 4 the ends, and 5 the bottom of a casing. The edges of the top 1, back 3, and bottom 5 project beyond the front 2 and ends, 4 so as to give a book, the front 2 and ends 4 being suitably decorated so as to give them the appearance of the edges of the leaves of a book. The book is covered by means of a suitable binding 6, which has the edges thereof overlapping the edges of the casing so as to give tot e device an a pearance somewhat resembling that of an XfOI'Cir-bOILIld Bible. The binding 6 is secured to the back 3 of the casing and to the bottom 5 thereof so as to secure the binding in applied position u on the easing and to hin edly connect the ottom 5 to the casing. T e portion 7 of the binding 6 is adapted to be swung back into the position illustrated in the drawings so as'to present the manuscript to view.

Secured to the underside of the top 1 are to the casing the appearance of two pairs of bearing brackets S and 8. The brackets 8 are fixed to the top adjacent to the ends of a-transverse slit 9 formed. therein, while the brackets 8* are similarly arranged adjacent to the ends of a corresponding slit 9, the said two slits 9 and 9 being disposed in parallel relation on opposite sides of the transverse center of the casing and spaced a Shafts 10 and 10* suitable distance apart. are journaled on the-brackets 8 and 8, respectively, and each has one of its ends projecting beyondthe front 2 of the casing and squared, as at 11, for the reception of a crank, not shown. Spools 11 are keyed to the shafts 10 and 10 respectively and are positioned between thebrackets 8 and 8. The spool 11, has wound thereon a manuscript 11, the free end of which is passed through the slit 9, then through the other slit 9 and thence secured to the spool 11 Inasmuch as the slits 9 and 9 are spaced a considerable distance apart, a large portionof the manuscript is always )resented to view. Knurled wheels 12 are eyed to the shafts 10 and 10 and project slightly above the top 1 of the casing through openings 13 therein so as to permit either of the spools 11 or 11 being turned to wind the manuscript thereon.

A preferred mode of detachably connecting the s ools and shafts is to provide each shaft wit a longitudinal s'eat groove a to receive splines or feathers a, a formed on the sleeve of each spool and in the body of each knurled wheel 12. By this means the v shaft may be slid longitudinally into and out of engagement with the spool and knurled wheel to disconnect the same or connect them for use. Any other mode of detachably connecting the parts for the purpose set forth may, however, be employed.

After the manuscript has been prepared, the same is Wound upon the spoo 11, and then the s 001 is ositioned Within the casing between t e brackets 8, after which the shaft 10 is applied to the brackets and passed through the spool 11, so as-to 'ournal the spool. The knurled wheel is also applied prior to the application of the shaft 10. After the spool 11 has thus been a plied, one end of the manuscript is passed t ough-the opening 9., then along the top 1 of the casing, and thence through the o em'ng 9, after which the end is secured to the spool 11*. It is thus apparent that the manuscript is in position to be wound from the spool 11 on to the spool 11 by means of the knurled Wheels 12 so as to present the parts thereof to view as it is required by the speaker. The bottom 5 of the casing is hinged so as to permit of access being had to the interior of the casing, and the-same may be held in closed position by any suitable means.

It is apparent from the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, that I provide a manuscript holder which has the appearance of an Oxfordbound Bible, and by means of which any portion of a manuscript may be readily and quickly referred to. It is also apparent that the removal of the shafts 10 and 10" provides means by which the spools 11 and l1 may be quickly wound upon one spool from ofi the other spool by means of the crank being applied to the squared end of either. of the shafts 10 or 10.

Having fully described and illustrated my invention, what I claim is:

The herein described manuscript holder consisting of a casing having a top, a back, a front and end walls rigidly secured together, a flexible cover secured to the back, and a bottom connected to said cover to form'a hinge for said bottom, the top having spaced slits through which the manuscript is adapted to extend, a pair of brackets having diverging arms and inwardly turned feet secured to the under surface of the top of the casing, shafts j ournaled in said brackets, and spools for receiving a roll of manuscript on said shafts, whereby the top, the back, the front and end walls may be inverted to lie up on said cover and expose the interior mechanism of the casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in-presence of two Witnesses.

RICHARD s. LAFOON.

Witnesses O. H. MARKHAM, W. H. HARLOW. 

